by 
to the sweet past
to the savory present
to the hopeful future
l’chaim
According to Wikipedia, among Argentine Jews, the Spanish name Jaime (xajme, a Spanish cognate of James) is often chosen for its phonetic similarity to Haim (life). I should change my name from Jamie to Jaime!
I believe “l’chaim” is generally used at weddings though it appears to have a complex history. At any rate, I have taken some liberty here.
© 2017, poem, Jamie Dedes; photograph courtesy of morgueFile
WEDNESDAY WRITING PROMPT
To Life and To Blessings
With all the horrors in the news these days, there are still moments of peace, hearts at peace, sweet and savory pleasures and we haven’t lost our hope for the future. This week write a poetic toast to Life, to all that is good and blessed and persists even in the face of tragedy. If you are comfortable, please share your work on theme or a link to it in the comments section below. All work shared will be published here next Tuesday.
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Jamie Dedes' THE POET BY DAY Webzine 
So many good responses and new ones too! Please view mine at https://reneejustturtleflight.com/2017/10/09/every-new-beginning. Meta
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there was a time
when one bottle of wine
seemed as if it was going to last forever;
the one I’m thinking of (purchased
one dinnertime in summer at 7/6d)
occupied a space in my life
a mile high and spanned the gap
all the way to Tibet; as you drank a glass
that dinnertime it seemed to refill itself
from the dregs of love
when one kiss would last
as long as the Rachmaninov cello sonata
whenever you put the record
on the turntable and let the needle fall –
obliterated in the so well-known cadences
which I could have been whistling
had my lips not been squashed against hers
when a bicycle ride would construct a day
down to the sea and back
across the long valley and over the downs –
magic ride often repeated –
I fill it from these dregs of memory
*
From forthcoming book of pomes
NOTE: 7/6d old money in 1964 = what would be 36p now
= after inflation in 2017 £6.80 = US$ 8.80
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My first response Jamie …
#An appeal to endure #
A dark tunnel
A murky avenue
A lunatic storm
Puzzled looks
Embarrassed scenes
Pixilated hearts
A giggling child
A lotus pond
A blooming daffodil
Vanished agony
Annihilated pain
An appeal to endure …
Kakali Das Ghosh
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I had forgotten how many happy poems I had. I promise this is the last:
In A Hush
of winter
from bare limbs silhouetted
against a grey sky
a sudden voice
from tiny lungs
your full heart lifts
as if the tree had blossomed
unexpectedly.
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🙂
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No problem. Delighted. 🙂
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Here’s my response –
The world thrives on stories of hope,
Little cracked,but surviving homes;
I live each moment in awe
From when life picked me first
So out of line, yet so full of want;
You are home to me,my world,
The only constant reminder,
My prayers and wishes answered;
No matter what changes around,
Am blessed;love can be found
If you raise a toast for the gifts
That equally to strangers, you receive to give.
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Wonderful! Thank you. Since this is your first time with the prompt, would you send a brief bio and – if you are comfortable – a photograph to me at thepoetbyday@gmail.com Thank you!
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Hi Jamie,
My third and last response:
1.
You’re such a klutz!
as I pull out my wallet
and silver coin falls out
I hold your warm hand
after all these years
and something passes
something does not fall
2.
Magic a grandkids hug
Round the middle
Softens sharp nails
Smooths frayed edges
Unaware hug anyway
any how whatever any why
all hammering
all awkward shaving down.
Gone in an instant.
Grandkids hugs should be
ever prescribed
On NHS
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Much needed writing prompt. Good words too !
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Thank you! Hope you’ll join in.
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Hi Jamie,
This is my second response:
A Breathless
small boy in an angry bird t shirt,
mock flight jacket,
Hawaiian shorts and trainers
bursts into the shop shouting
“What-What-time-is-it?
When-do-you-close?
I’ve got fifty pee.”
I reply that we close at eight,
so he has an hour.
“Just ran all way here.
What can I buy? he asks
mouth open before a wall of sweets.
I show him in one corner trays full
of small chocolate eggs at 49p.
“Yes. Yes one of these.”
His delight makes me smile.
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beautiful
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Thank you, Lovely! Warm regards today.
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second response….
.the year.
gently go forward, then gently back
recreating past deeds and misdemenours
you thought forgotten.
gently go forward knowing we are mostly
all the same, with motes not spoken of,
except disorder.
gently it passed behind you, seen
clearly while looking for god.
gently gather winter leaves to keep
in paper bags. these are the golden
days .
my friend.
sbm.
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Hi Jamie,
Here’s my first response:
A Little Girl
places an autumn oak leaf
in all its yellow and red on my conveyor belt.
I consider my potential responses:
Sorry love you can’t buy that here.
Sorry love it has no barcode, so won’t go through.
That’s a free gift from nature, love.
At the finish I advise
Sorry you can’t put that through, love
and she removes the leaf from the belt.
At the finish it is all child’s play
in the adult buy and sell.
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Thanks Jamie……my first response….
..earth & heaven..
I have been away, this is the first day back.
not floods, yet death, and roofs flying, to produce home less ness.
I understand nothing of your situation, yet I know some stuff, and mostly i can only listen.
I guess we have to help ourselves. I met some good people away.
sbm.
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Believe in self is the best… rest of them you know very well!
God bless you !!!!
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